title: Deterioration in renal function is associated with increased arterial stiffness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Higher levels of baseline pulse wave velocity (PWV) have been associated with longitudinal decline in renal function in patients with kidney disease. We examined longitudinal decline in renal function in relation to levels of PWV. We hypothesized that longitudinal decline in renal function in a community-based, nonclinic sample would be associated with higher levels of PWV.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a 4-5 year longitudinal study with 482 community-living individuals free from acute stroke, dementia, and end-stage renal disease (mean age = 60.9 years; 59% women; 93.2% white; 10% with diabetes mellitus; mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) = 79.2 ml/min/1.73 m2). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between changes in renal function (eGFR and serum creatinine) from baseline to follow-up and PWV levels at follow-up, the outcome measure. Regression coefficients were adjusted for age, sex, education, race/ethnicity, weight, activity level, mean arterial pressure, treatment of hypertension, and cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With adjustment for covariables, decline in renal function was associated with higher levels of PWV over a mean follow-up of 4.68 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decline in renal functioning from baseline levels measured 4-5 years before measurement of PWV is related to higher levels of PWV in a community sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine.
authors.forename: Merrill F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dore
authors.forename: Avrum
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: Walter P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Abhayaratna
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Robbins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
keywords: blood pressure; cardiovascular disease; chronic kidney disease; estimated glomerular filtration rate; hypertension; pulse wave velocity; renal disease.